After causing a meltdown among burger lovers, a deadly E. coli outbreak linked to slivered onions in McDonald's Quarter Pounders has officially ended—leaving 104 people wondering if 'high stakes' meant something entirely different.

The E. coli outbreak, which has infected 104 people across 14 states and led to one tragic death, was traced back to slivered onions supplied by Taylor Farms, making the Onion Ring's rise to fame seem less appetizing. Thankfully, the CDC and FDA no longer consider it a food safety concern, but with 34 hospitalizations and four cases of kidney failure, many are left asking if they should really be rolling the dice on fast food or just stick to fries.

Most of the affected individuals reported frequenting McDonald's, with previous fandom slowly morphing into caution. Unsurprisingly, all of them managed to order a menu item topped with the infamous slivered onions, effectively turning this burger staple into a point of public contention. The unfortunate irony is that these onions, once a delightful crunch in an American classic, became the main ingredient in a health scare recipe that left people queasy about their choice of a midnight snack.

Interestingly, the most recent illness was reported just days before a proactive recall of the onions on October 22. Perhaps the affected diners assumed their stomach's rumble was more about the Quarter Pounder than the prospect of engaging with an exotic bacterial agent. McDonald's, ever the adaptable giant, swiftly removed the offending onions from their operations and even took the Quarter Pounder off the menu at various locations, marking a significant chapter in fast food history that nobody anticipated.

Colorado appears to have taken the prize for being the most affected state, with 30 confirmed cases and one unfortunate fatality. Locals are left grappling with the fact that while the Rockies might be their pride and joy, E. coli has swiftly taken a more prominent spot in dinner conversations. With so much excitement over who got a burger any potential culprits should probably be doing no more than quietly contemplating their choices while very carefully steering clear of any restaurant menus.

As the storm clouds clear, it’s revealing that the number of actual infections is likely underestimated. Many individuals recover without ever seeing a doctor, preferring to kick back at home and embrace their fate as a statistic rather than a patient. The actual count might read more like a shocking Netflix documentary than just another report from health agencies, and should give some food for thought—pun intended—to regular patrons of fast food establishments.

In the wake of the outbreak, McDonald's has invested a remarkable $100 million in marketing and franchisee support, perhaps attempting to woo back customers with the promise of improved food safety and an expanded menu sans slivers of questionable onions. But, with the threat gone and the grills fired back up, the chain is prepared to reclaim its throne in the burger world.

Now, the CDC and FDA have given the all-clear, sending burger aficionados back into drive-thrus across the nation with the audacity usually reserved for those making a grand entrance. It seems the fear of foodborne illness might fade faster than the memory of last summer's barbecue mishaps. They proclaim, with the seriousness only a governmental agency can muster, that individuals are once again free to enjoy their fast food with the same reckless abandon they previously exhibited before their salad days were interrupted by rogue bacteria. Clearly, the lesson is that when it comes to onions, it's best to stick to the rings for a while.

As we look towards the future, we all have our fingers crossed for a brighter day in the world of fast food—where ketchup flows freely and the rough-and-tumble history of slivered onions becomes a mere anecdote. To everyone who survived this culinary conundrum, remember that every dark cloud has a silver lining, or maybe just some corrosive E. coli, which might explain why the fast food industry can be rather unpredictable. Nonetheless, let’s raise a glass (of sanitizer perhaps) to healthy eating, safer burgers, and steering clear of anything that sounds too trendy at the moment.